Glucagon receptor antagonist compounds, compositions containing such compounds and methods of use

1. A a compound represented by formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

Ring A represents a 6-10 membered Aryl group or a 5-10 membered heteroaryl or partially aromatic heterocyclic group containing 1-4 heteroatoms, 0-4 of which are N atoms, and 0-1 of which are O or S atoms;

two R 1 and two R 2 groups are present and represent hydrogen, or one or two R 1 and R 2 groups are selected from (a), (b) and (c) below:

(a) halo, OH, CO 2 R 4 , SO p R 5 , CN, NO 2 C(O)NR 6 R 7 or NR 6 R 7 ;

(b) C 1-10 alkyl, C(O)C 1-10 alkyl, OC 1-6 alkyl, C 2-6 alkenyl, the alkyl portions being optionally substituted with: (1) 1-5 halo groups, up to perhalo, and 1-2 OH groups;

(c) a 6-10 membered Aryl, O-Aryl or S-Aryl group, or a 5-10 membered HAR, O-HAR or S-HAR group containing 0-4 nitrogen and 0-1 O or S atoms, said group being optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from (a) and (b) above,

or two R 2 groups can be taken together in combination and represent a methylene or ethylene bridge forming a carbocyclic ring containing 5 or 6 atoms, or a fused phenyl ring optionally substituted with 1-3 halo groups and 1-2 CN, SO p R 5 , C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, haloC 1-3 alkyl, haloC 1-3 alkoxy groups, and

the R 1 groups represent H or are selected from (a) through (c) above;

four R 3 groups are present as follows:

1) 0-1 R 3 group is selected from the group consisting of: Aryl, HAR, —(CH 2 ) 1-4 Aryl, —(CH 2 ) 1-4 HAR, —X-Aryl, —X-HAR, —X—C 1-4 Alkyl-Aryl and —X—C 1-4 Alkyl-HAR; wherein X represents O, S, S(O) or S(O) 2 ;

said Aryl and HAR groups and portions of the groups above being optionally substituted with 1-4 halo atoms, and 1-2 members selected from: OH, CN, C 1-6 alkyl, OC 1-6 allyl, haloC 1-6 allyl, OC 1-6 haloalkyl, NO 2 , SO p R 5 , C 2-6 alkenyl, OC 2-6 alkenyl, NR 6 R 7 and HAR;

2) 0-3 R 3 groups are selected from: OH, CN, oxo, NO 2 , SO p R 5 , NR 6 R 7 , C 1-10 alkyl, haloC 1-10 alkyl, OC 1-10 alkyl, OC 1-10 haloalkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl, OC 2-6 alkenyl and haloC 2-4 alkenyl, and

3) the remaining R 3 groups are H or halo atoms;

R 4 is H or C 1-6 alkyl, and

R 5 represents a member selected from the group consisting of: C 1-10 alkyl, Aryl or Ar—C 1-4 -alkyl;

R 6 and R 7 each independently represent H or C 1-6 alkyl;

n represents an integer of from 0-5;

p is 0, 1 or 2;

R a represents CH 2 CH 2 CO 2 R 4 , CH 2 CH(OH)CO 2 R 4 or 5-tetrazolyl; and

R b is H or is selected from the group consisting of: halo, CN, NO 2 , OH, C 1-3 alkyl, OC 1-3 alkyl, haloC 1-3 alkyl and haloC 1-3 alkoxy.

2. A compound in accordance with claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Ring A represents an Aryl group selected from phenyl, naphthyl and tetrahydronaphthyl, a HAR group which is a 6-10 membered aromatic heteroaryl or partially aromatic heterocyclyl containing 1-2 heteroatoms, 0-1 of which is O and 0-2 of which are N atoms.

3. A compound in accordance with claim 2 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Ring A represents a member selected from the group consisting of:

4. A compound in accordance with claim 3 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Ring A represents a member selected from the group consisting of:

5. A compound in accordance with claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein n represents an integer selected from 1, 2 and 3.

6. A compound in accordance with claim 5 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein n represents an integer selected from 1 and 2.

7. A compound in accordance with claim 6 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein n represents 2.

8. A compound in accordance with claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the R 1 and R 2 groups represent hydrogen or 1-2 of the R 1 and R 2 groups are independently selected from the group consisting of: halo; OH; C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-3 halo groups; CN; NR 6 R 7 ; SO p R 5 ; C 2-4 -alkenyl, and a 6-10 membered Aryl group, or the R 2 groups are taken in combination and represent a —CH 2 — or —CH 2 CH 2 — group, or a fused phenyl ring, unsubstituted or substituted with 1-3 groups, up to 3 of which are halo groups, and up to 2 of which are C 1-3 alkyl, haloC 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or haloC 1-3 alkoxy groups.

9. A compound in accordance with claim 8 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the R 1 groups represent hydrogen halo; C 1-3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-3 halo groups; CN or NR 6 R 7 ; and the R 2 groups represent H, or are taken in combination and represent a —CH 2 — or a fused phenyl ring, unsubstituted or substituted with 1-3 groups, up to 3 of which are halo groups, and up to 2 of which are C 1-3 alkyl, haloC 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or haloC 1-3 alkoxy groups.

10. A compound in accordance with claim 9 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the R 1 groups represent hydrogen, halo; CH 3 or CF 3 , and the R 2 groups represent H, or are taken in combination and represent a —CH 2 — or a fused phenyl ring.

11. A compound in accordance with claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R a is selected from

12. A compound in accordance with claim 11 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R a represents

13. A compound in accordance with claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R b represents H.

14. A compound in accordance with claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each R 3 is selected as follows:

1) 0-1 R 3 group is selected from the group consisting of: Aryl, HAR, —CH 2 -Aryl, —CH 2 -HAR, —O-Aryl, —O-HAR, —O—CH 2 -Aryl and —O—CH 2 -HAR;

said Aryl and HAR groups and portions of the groups above being optionally substituted with 1-2 halo atoms, and 1-2 members selected from: CN, C 1-6 alkyl, OC 1-6 allyl, haloC 1-3 alkyl, OC 1-3 haloalkyl, NO 2 , S(O) p R 5 , C 2-6 alkenyl, NH 2 , NMe 2 and HAR;

2) 0-3 R 3 groups are selected from: CN, oxo, NO 2 , S(O) p C 1-8 allyl, NH 2 , NMe 2 , C 1-7 alkyl, haloC 1-3 alkyl, OC 1-7 alkyl, OC 1-3 haloalkyl and C 2-6 alkenyl, and

3) the remaining R 3 groups are H or halo atoms.

15. A compound in accordance with claim 14 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each R 3 is selected as follows:

1) 0-1 R 3 group is selected from the group consisting of: Aryl, HAR, —CH 2 -Aryl, —CH 2 -HAR, —O-Aryl, —O-HAR, —O—CH 2 -Aryl and —O—CH 2 -HAR;

said Aryl and HAR groups and portions of the groups above being optionally substituted with 1-2 halo atoms and 1-2 members selected from: CN, C 1-4 alkyl, OC 1-6 alkyl, S(O) p C 1-6 alkyl, halomethyl, halomethoxy, NO 2 , NMe 2 and pyrazolyl;

2) 0-1 R 3 group is selected from: CN, oxo, NO 2 , SO 2 CH 3 , NMe 2 , C 1-7 alkyl, haloC 1-3 alkyl, OC 1-7 alkyl, OC 1-3 haloalkyl and C 2-6 alkenyl, and

3) the remaining R 3 groups are H or halo atoms.

16. A compound in accordance with claim 15 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each R 3 is selected as follows:

1) 0-1 R 3 group represents: Aryl, wherein Aryl is selected from phenyl, naphthyl and tetrahydronaphthyl; HAR selected from pyridyl, quinolinyl, pyrimidinyl, isoxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzopyrazolyl, benzooxadiazolyl, indazolyl, benzofuranyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, benzothiophene, benzothiazole and benzoimidazolyl; —CH 2 -Aryl selected from benzyl; —O-Aryl selected from phenyloxy; —O-HAR selected from pyridyloxy, benzothiazoloxy and quinolinyloxy; —O—CH 2 -Aryl selected from benzyloxy or —O—CH 2 -HAR selected from: pyridylmethoxy, furanylmethoxy, benzothiazolmethoxy and quinolinylmethoxy,

said Aryl and HAR groups and portions of the groups above being optionally substituted with 1-2 halo atoms and 1 member selected from: CN, C 1-4 alkyl, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, NO 2 , and NMe 2 ;

2) 0-1 R 3 group is selected from: C 1-7 alkyl, haloC 1-3 alkyl, OC 1-7 alkyl and OC 1-3 haloalkyl, and

3) the remaining R 3 groups are H or halo atoms.

17. A compound in accordance with claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

Ring A represents an Aryl group selected from phenyl, naphthyl and tetrahydronaphthyl, a HAR group which is a 6-10 membered aromatic heteroaryl or partially aromatic heterocyclyl containing 1-2 heteroatoms, 0-1 of which is O and 0-2 of which are N atoms;

n represents an integer selected from 1, 2 and 3;

the R 1 and R 2 groups represent hydrogen or 1-2 of the R 1 and R 2 groups are independently selected from the group consisting of: halo; OH; C 1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-3 halo groups; CN; NR 6 R 7 ; SO p R 5 ; C 2-4 alkenyl, and a 6-10 membered Aryl group, or the R 2 groups are taken in combination and represent a —CH 2 — or —CH 2 CH 2 — group, or a fused phenyl ring, unsubstituted or substituted with 1-3 groups, up to 3 of which are halo groups, and up to 2 of which are C 1-3 alkyl, haloC 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or haloC 1-3 alkoxy groups;

R a is selected from

R b represents H, and

each R 3 is selected as follows:

1) 0-1 R 3 group is selected from the group consisting of: Aryl, HAR, —CH 2 -Aryl, —CH 2 -HAR, —O-Aryl, —O-HAR, —O—CH 2 -Aryl and —O—CH 2 -HAR;

said Aryl and HAR groups and portions of the groups above being optionally substituted with 1-2 halo atoms, and 1-2 members selected from: CN, C 1-6 alkyl, OC 1-6 alkyl, haloC 1-3 alkyl, OC 1-3 haloalkyl, NO 2 , SO p R 5 , C 2-6 alkenyl, NH 2 , NMe 2 and HAR;

2) 0-3 R 3 groups are selected from: CN, oxo, NO 2 , S(O) p C 1-8 alkyl, NH 2 , NMe 2 , C 1-7 alkyl, haloC 1-3 alkyl, OC 1-7 alkyl, OC 1-3 haloalkyl and C 2-6 alkenyl, and

3) the remaining R 3 groups are H or halo atoms.

18. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound in accordance with claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.